Malawi

Malawi, officially the Republic of Malawi, is the "warm heart of Africa". It is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. A fifth of the land is occupied by Lake Malawi, popular for diving, boating, and fishing as a major food source. It is widely recognized as one of the best freshwater diving locations in the world for its clear, calm, warm, shark-free and tideless waters with an abundant fish population (around 1000 species), and fascinating rock formations. Malawi is also quickly developing a reputation as an up-and-coming safari destination, with indigenous mammals such as elephants, hippos, big cats, monkeys, and bats; a great variety of birds including birds of prey, parrots and falcons, waterfowl and large waders, owls and songbirds.